Judge Rules That Police Can Bar High I.Q. Scores
Published: September 9, 1999
A Federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a man who was barred from the New London police force because he scored too high on an intelligence test.
In a ruling made public on Tuesday, Judge Peter C. Dorsey of the United States District Court in New Haven agreed that the plaintiff, Robert Jordan, was denied an opportunity to interview for a police job because of his high test scores. But he said that that did not mean Mr. Jordan was a victim of discrimination.
Judge Dorsey ruled that Mr. Jordan was not denied equal protection because the city of New London applied the same standard to everyone: anyone who scored too high was rejected.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
1+1=3
Eyebrows raised over city school policy that sets 50% as minimum score
1+1=3? In city schools, it's half right
Monday, September 22, 2008
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials say they want to give struggling children a chance, but the district is raising eyebrows with a policy that sets 50 percent as the minimum score a student can receive for assignments, tests and other work.
...
While some districts use "F" as a failing grade, the city uses an "E."
"The 'E' is to be recorded no lower than a 50 percent, regardless of the actual percent earned. For example, if the student earns a 20 percent on a class assignment, the grade is recorded as a 50 percent," said the memo from Jerri Lippert, the district's executive director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, and Mary VanHorn, a PFT vice president.
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1+1=3? In city schools, it's half right
Monday, September 22, 2008
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials say they want to give struggling children a chance, but the district is raising eyebrows with a policy that sets 50 percent as the minimum score a student can receive for assignments, tests and other work.
...
While some districts use "F" as a failing grade, the city uses an "E."
"The 'E' is to be recorded no lower than a 50 percent, regardless of the actual percent earned. For example, if the student earns a 20 percent on a class assignment, the grade is recorded as a 50 percent," said the memo from Jerri Lippert, the district's executive director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, and Mary VanHorn, a PFT vice president.
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No Wall Street Banker Left Behind Legislation
Paulson of the US Treasury is asking for king-like powers. Bernanke of the Fed and Bush of the White House are pushing this huge bailout for their financial friends.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Ready, Set, Pump!
Nashville pumps dry after panic about rumor of no gas
(CNN) -- Call it a self-fulfilling prophecy: An estimated three-fourths of gas stations in the Nashville, Tennessee, area ran dry Friday, victim of an apparent rumor that the city was running out of gas.
Officials said panic regarding a rumor of a lack of gas caused customers to to rush to the pumps.
Officials said panic regarding a rumor of a lack of gas caused customers to to rush to the pumps.
"Everybody has just gone nuts," said Mike Williams, executive director of the Tennessee Petroleum Council.
He said he has no idea about the origin of a rumor that there was going to be no gas in Nashville. One reporter called him, saying she had heard that Nashville would be without gas within the hour, he said.
Hearing the rumor, drivers rushed to fill their cars and trucks.
CNN called 13 Nashville gas stations at random. Only two reported having gas, and one said it was almost out. The stations said they were being told they would not get more until Monday or Tuesday.
...
(CNN) -- Call it a self-fulfilling prophecy: An estimated three-fourths of gas stations in the Nashville, Tennessee, area ran dry Friday, victim of an apparent rumor that the city was running out of gas.
Officials said panic regarding a rumor of a lack of gas caused customers to to rush to the pumps.
Officials said panic regarding a rumor of a lack of gas caused customers to to rush to the pumps.
"Everybody has just gone nuts," said Mike Williams, executive director of the Tennessee Petroleum Council.
He said he has no idea about the origin of a rumor that there was going to be no gas in Nashville. One reporter called him, saying she had heard that Nashville would be without gas within the hour, he said.
Hearing the rumor, drivers rushed to fill their cars and trucks.
CNN called 13 Nashville gas stations at random. Only two reported having gas, and one said it was almost out. The stations said they were being told they would not get more until Monday or Tuesday.
...
Monday, September 15, 2008
UN To Remove Internet Anonymity
U.N. agency eyes curbs on Internet anonymity
Posted by Declan McCullagh 31 comments
A United Nations agency is quietly drafting technical standards, proposed by the Chinese government, to define methods of tracing the original source of Internet communications and potentially curbing the ability of users to remain anonymous.
The U.S. National Security Agency is also participating in the "IP Traceback" drafting group, named Q6/17, which is meeting next week in Geneva to work on the traceback proposal. Members of Q6/17 have declined to release key documents, and meetings are closed to the public.
...
Posted by Declan McCullagh 31 comments
A United Nations agency is quietly drafting technical standards, proposed by the Chinese government, to define methods of tracing the original source of Internet communications and potentially curbing the ability of users to remain anonymous.
The U.S. National Security Agency is also participating in the "IP Traceback" drafting group, named Q6/17, which is meeting next week in Geneva to work on the traceback proposal. Members of Q6/17 have declined to release key documents, and meetings are closed to the public.
...
Texas School District Will Let Teachers Carry Guns
Instead of having students and teachers be victims in gun-free zones, this school district will allow teachers (already vetted and background checked) to defend themselves and their students. Teachers are responsible for their students, so allowing this responsibility to include self-defense is logical. Disarming teachers to create "sitting duck zones" is illogical.
Texas School District Will Let Teachers Carry Guns
Friday, August 15, 2008
A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to pass a law specifically allowing teachers and staff to pack heat when classes begin later this month.
Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements.
Superintendent David Thweatt told FOXNews.com the policy was initiated because of safety concerns.
"We have had employees assaulted before by people in the last several years," Thweatt said. "I think that safety is big concern. We are seeing a lot of anger in society."
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Texas School District Will Let Teachers Carry Guns
Friday, August 15, 2008
A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to pass a law specifically allowing teachers and staff to pack heat when classes begin later this month.
Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements.
Superintendent David Thweatt told FOXNews.com the policy was initiated because of safety concerns.
"We have had employees assaulted before by people in the last several years," Thweatt said. "I think that safety is big concern. We are seeing a lot of anger in society."
...
Dictatorship To Democracy
How to rebuild and restart. Download, print, read, act.
Free download of From Dictatorship To Democracy.
First published in Bangkok in 1993.
Free download of From Dictatorship To Democracy.
First published in Bangkok in 1993.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Web Of Power: Lehman Brothers, President Bush's Cousin, McCain's Son
Lehman Investment Unit Gets Bids From Bain, Clayton (Update1)
By Jason Kelly and Jonathan Keehner
Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. received offers for its asset-management unit from private- equity firms including Bain Capital LLC and Clayton Dubilier & Rice Inc., said people familiar with the situation.
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The buyout companies are angling to own a business with assets of $273 billion headed by former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker George Walker, 39. The New York-based firm proceeded with the auction because the private-equity firms continued to express interest in a deal, according to the people. While Lehman aimed to complete the sale by late next month, the process may be disrupted by a takeover of the company, perhaps as soon as this weekend.
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George Herbert Walker IV
George Herbert Walker IV (born April 1969) is a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and is a second cousin to U.S. President George W. Bush. ...
Bank Tied To John McCain's Son Goes Under
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2008
(AP) Regulators on Friday shut down Silver State Bank, saying the Nevada bank failed because of losses on soured loans, mainly in commercial real estate and land development.
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Andrew K. McCain, a son of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, sat on the boards of Silver State Bank and of its parent, Silver State Bancorp, starting in February but resigned in July citing "personal reasons," corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show. Andrew McCain also was a member of the bank's audit committee, responsible for oversight of the company's accounting.
By Jason Kelly and Jonathan Keehner
Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. received offers for its asset-management unit from private- equity firms including Bain Capital LLC and Clayton Dubilier & Rice Inc., said people familiar with the situation.
...
The buyout companies are angling to own a business with assets of $273 billion headed by former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker George Walker, 39. The New York-based firm proceeded with the auction because the private-equity firms continued to express interest in a deal, according to the people. While Lehman aimed to complete the sale by late next month, the process may be disrupted by a takeover of the company, perhaps as soon as this weekend.
...
George Herbert Walker IV
George Herbert Walker IV (born April 1969) is a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and is a second cousin to U.S. President George W. Bush. ...
Bank Tied To John McCain's Son Goes Under
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2008
(AP) Regulators on Friday shut down Silver State Bank, saying the Nevada bank failed because of losses on soured loans, mainly in commercial real estate and land development.
...
Andrew K. McCain, a son of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, sat on the boards of Silver State Bank and of its parent, Silver State Bancorp, starting in February but resigned in July citing "personal reasons," corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show. Andrew McCain also was a member of the bank's audit committee, responsible for oversight of the company's accounting.
FDIC Insurance (It Doesn't Exist)
FDIC Insurance Fund - It Doesn't Actually Exist
When FDIC head Shelia Bair says her agency might have to bolster the FDIC's insurance fund with Treasury borrowings to pay for the new spate of bank failures, a lot of us, this 40-year banking veteran included, assumed there's an actual FDIC fund in need of bolstering.
We were wrong. As a former FDIC chairman, Bill Isaac, points out here, the FDIC Insurance Fund is an accounting fiction. It takes in premiums from banks, then turns those premiums over to the Treasury, which adds the money to the government's general coffers for "spending . . . on missiles, school lunches, water projects, and the like."
The insurance premiums aren't really premiums at all, therefore. They're a tax by another name.
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When FDIC head Shelia Bair says her agency might have to bolster the FDIC's insurance fund with Treasury borrowings to pay for the new spate of bank failures, a lot of us, this 40-year banking veteran included, assumed there's an actual FDIC fund in need of bolstering.
We were wrong. As a former FDIC chairman, Bill Isaac, points out here, the FDIC Insurance Fund is an accounting fiction. It takes in premiums from banks, then turns those premiums over to the Treasury, which adds the money to the government's general coffers for "spending . . . on missiles, school lunches, water projects, and the like."
The insurance premiums aren't really premiums at all, therefore. They're a tax by another name.
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
9/11 TM
The Republicans have been consumed by the 9/11 con-artists who sell fear and perpetual war.
Video commentary about the 9/11 trademark:
Video commentary about the 9/11 trademark:
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Jumping Prions
Prion news has not been widely discussed in North America, though Europeans are familiar with it due to the 1990s mad cow scare.
Prions jump species barrier
Test tube experiments may help identify the most hazardous prion proteins.
Amber Dance
Infectious prion proteins from hamsters can change normal proteins from mice into new, infectious forms of prion - simply by mixing the proteins together in a test tube.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston suggest their discovery could be turned into a useful test for whether a given prion strain is transmissible from one species to another. Prion proteins are responsible for Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and "mad cow" disease.
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Prions jump species barrier
Test tube experiments may help identify the most hazardous prion proteins.
Amber Dance
Infectious prion proteins from hamsters can change normal proteins from mice into new, infectious forms of prion - simply by mixing the proteins together in a test tube.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston suggest their discovery could be turned into a useful test for whether a given prion strain is transmissible from one species to another. Prion proteins are responsible for Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and "mad cow" disease.
...
Friday, September 05, 2008
Outsourcing Torture
Extraordinary rendition, extraordinary mistake
By Sangitha McKenzie Millar
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There is substantial evidence that the United States routinely and knowingly "outsources" the application of torture by transferring terrorism suspects to countries that frequently violate international human rights norms.
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By Sangitha McKenzie Millar
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There is substantial evidence that the United States routinely and knowingly "outsources" the application of torture by transferring terrorism suspects to countries that frequently violate international human rights norms.
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